THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRIMINAL LAW ON ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES: ANALYSIS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM A GREEN CRIMINOLOGY PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of criminal law concerning environmental offenses through the analytical framework of green criminology, with particular emphasis on law enforcement mechanisms and their effectiveness. The study analyzes the transformation of environmental criminal law from its nascent regulatory origins to contemporary comprehensive legal frameworks that recognize ecological harm as a legitimate subject of criminal sanction. Employing doctrinal legal analysis combined with green criminological theory, this research investigates how law enforcement agencies have adapted to address environmental crimes, including illegal waste disposal, wildlife trafficking, pollution offenses, and corporate environmental violations. The findings reveal significant gaps between legislative development and enforcement capacity, highlighting systemic challenges such as inadequate institutional resources, limited prosecutorial expertise, and the complex transnational nature of environmental crimes. This article argues that effective enforcement requires not only robust legal frameworks but also a paradigm shift toward recognizing environmental harm as a form of violence against both ecological systems and human communities. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on green criminology by providing a comprehensive analysis of the dialectical relationship between legal development and enforcement practice, offering recommendations for strengthening criminal justice responses to environmental degradation.